Amaker Named Clarence ‘Big House’ Gaines Coach of the Year

Tommy Amaker and the Crimson reached the NCAA tournament for
the second time in as many seasons in 2012-13 (Gil
Talbot).

SALISBURY, N.C.
– Harvard men’s basketball
head coach Tommy Amaker was named the Clarence ‘Big
House’ Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year, the
National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association & Hall of
Fame announced Wednesday.

The award, which is presented to the top minority college
basketball coach in NCAA Division I and Division II, comes on the
heels of one of the finest seasons in Harvard basketball history.
In his sixth season at the helm, Amaker guided the Crimson to a
20-10 overall mark, a third consecutive Ivy League title and the
first NCAA tournament win in program history.

Harvard, which was projected to finish second in the preseason
polls, won its second straight outright Ancient Eight crown under
Amaker with an 11-3 mark during the regular season to earn the
second consecutive NCAA tournament berth and third in school
history.

As a No. 14 seed, Amaker helped the Crimson pull the
tournament’s signature upset on the first day of the second
round, stunning the No. 3 New Mexico Lobos, 68-62, for the first
postseason victory in Harvard annals. The win also vaulted Harvard
above the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight season.

Under his tutelage, sophomore Wesley Saunders and freshman
Siyani Chambers were both named to the All-Ivy first team with
Chambers also garnering Rookie of the Year accolades.
Chambers’ selection to the first team also marked the first
time in Ancient Eight history that a freshman was on the first
team.

During his tenure, the 1987 Duke graduate has guided the Crimson
to several other program milestones including the first national
rankings in school history, reaching as high as No. 21 in the
ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, the first three Ivy League titles in
program annals, the four highest win totals in school history and
four straight postseason tournament appearances. Amaker also holds
the highest winning percentage in school history with a .629
mark.

James Stinson of Livingstone College (N.C.) was named the
Division II recipient of the award.

Amaker and Stinson will receive their awards as part of the 53rd
annual NSSA Awards Banquet, which will be held June 11th at Catawba
College in Salisbury, N.C.